dieting & breastfeeding

[blondiep14]

DS2 is a very healthy 13 week old. Am exclusively breastfeeding and all is ok apart from mastitis which I'm getting over at the moment but I caught it early andgot ABs so not as horrible as it could have been.
Despite having a fat hungry baby and a very active 2yr old I am struggling to shift some pounds after initial very quick weightloss. Was thinking about doing Slimfast for a week or two, just to kick things off a bit really and give me some motivation. MIL dead against me dieting in any form but I wonder really would it do any harm?

No you mustn't diet like that whilst BF, certain things can be released into breast milk if you diet that extremely.

I actually found if I didn't eat well, my milk supply dropped personally.

The weather is getting better and better, pop your gorgeous baby in its stroller once a day at a nap time and go for a long brisk walk. Do it regularly and that will help.

When you give up BF a lot of weight at that point comes off on it's own. Try not to worry right now about how you look IMO. Eat healthily and slow energy releasing things like porridge but do not do slim fast! I think you're supposed to eat about 600 extra calories a day whilst BF But those calories don't have to be chocolate

I wouldn't do slim fast, it is a rubbish way to diet.

You can do a weightwatchers or slimming world breastfeeding plan. Or do what I did, I cut out bread, refined sugar and potatoes, ate lots of fruit and veg and lost the baby weight over about six months.

I THINK it is only 200 extra calories a day sadly teaabndcakeplease

You arent meant to use slimfast when bf. I'm not sure why though and cant see how 1-2 weeks would do any harm to you.

You'd have to be borderign on malnutrition for it to have an affect on your milk.

What things can be released into your milk if dieting?? Never heard of this.

It was mentioned on another thread I was on, but can't remember what it was. Someone will come along later I am sure and explain. My memory is not great but I do remember them mentioning it.

Could you find it? I think it's quite dangerous to post stuff like that about breastfeeding without any evidence for it beign true. I've read alot about bf and never come across such a thing. If it was mentioned on another thread it still might not be true.

Oh gosh rainbow, its too early for this. The person who stated it I trusted. It was a thread I was on ages ago.

I need to go and look after my kids not scroll around hunting right now for this. I just wanted to help the OP, my post was kind and encouraging.

Plenty more people will come on this thread later who are experienced and will mention what it was I am sure. It's not dangerous to state what I did in anyway or form. You shouldn't diet extremely on slim fast whilst BF.

Why shouldnt you diet though when bf? WHat harm will it do for 2 weeks? Slim fast is a crap way to diet whether bf or not but I dont get how it will affect breastfeeding. As I said you'd need to be bordering on malnutrition for your milk to be affected so I dont see how 2 weeks of slim fast will be so bad.

It is dangerous because if it's not true then people will read what you've said and nto realise it's not true and think they cant bf and diet because something bad gets released into their milk.

I'm talking about dieting extremely here using slim fast Not normal sensible dieting.

Can we not hi-jack this ladies thread with this? She needs support, not two woman arguing

I started a diet when DS2 was 10 months old and still BF.

I have basically just cut down on the amount I eat and the types of food I eat I have adjusted slightly (snack on fruit not cake! ). DS2 seems fine and I have lost a stone so far in just over a month, which I am pleased with.

IMO 13 weeks seems a bit young to be going on a drastic diet like slimfast.

Yes, but she has asked if she can use slim fast whilst breastfeeding for 2 weeks. I cannot see why she cant but you feel she cant. Surely that's the point of the thread. I agree slim fast is a bad way to diet but I cant see how it will affect her milk.
You said it causes bad things to be released into her milk so I've asked what these bad things are but you cant tell me.

Here you are Rainbow:

According to Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (3rd Edition, Riordan, pp 440), it is noted that fad or rapid weight loss programs should be avoided because fat-soluble environmental contaminants and toxins stored in body fat are released into the milk when caloric intake is severely restricted. I was unable to find a definition of "severely restricted" but I expect that it is significantly under 1500 calories per day (which they called a "modest intake")

This is from kellymom, bottom of the web page: www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/mom-weightloss.html

Can you stop picking on me now and we support the OP again?

This is why I say slimfast is a bad idea.

Well - I think we can all agree that using Slimfast while breastfeeding is probably a bad idea, and leave it at that...

Thankyou. That's all I asked for.

I've been doing WW while BF and have lost all the baby weight plus a bit extra (just as I'd hoped). I started just after Christmas and have lost 2 stone.

Really, longtalljosie? We shouldn't ask why and should just accept what we're told. I had never heard of these bad things being released and so couldnt see why slimfast would be bad. I asked for evidence of this as I hadnt heard of it and teaandcakes obliged. Is that so bad?

Did I say that, rainbow? No, I bloody well did not. It seems to me you're spoiling for a fight.

My initial reaction to the early part of this thread (although I note the Kellymom excerpt above) was that I would be surprised if Slimfast made anything "get into" breastmilk - but that wasn't the point I was making. I simply said that a shake-based diet didn't seem like a very good idea if you were breastfeeding. Not necessarily for the baby (which tends to take what it needs) but for the mother as well.

At the point I posted, I didn't see the Kellymom quote, it was a cross post. At no point did I say, oh, bugger the evidence, let's just accept what we're told.

I'd also hoped to calm down the argument, but instead you've just turned around and started on me.

Thanks all (and sorry LTJ). I shall put the slimfast back in the cupboard and try to find my will power!!

I just have such cravings for chocolate & cake and have become rubbish at ignoring them now I don't smoke anymore!
Hopefully once DS1's Easter eggs have all gone it will be easier !

Join a slimming word or weight watchers programme catered for breast feeding as others have said. I think you're doing great, struggling with less sleep and BF a small baby, I'm impressed you're even thinking about dieting OP x

I should, I know. It's not just the finding one I can go to when MIL can babysit but the actual cooking of the good food all the time. I guess I am lazy and lack willpower so slimfast/special K type plans used to suit me (pre babies anyway!) as they required little effort!
Time to be sensible I guess...!

Nothing to apologise for, Blondie...

If you don't mind my asking, how much do you have to lose?

I think with some you can do them online nowadays

How much do you have/ or want to loose at LTJ says?

• as

well, not altogether sure as I didn't know how much I weighed before pregnant with DS2.
Before DS1 I was a slim 10, 12 bottom then after a 12 top, 14 bottom. Ideally i would love to be a slim 12 bottom again but I don't kow how realistic that is. Currently I can get my 14s on, but a lot hangs over the top!!

Good luck blondie. I want to lose some weight as well but am not dieting - going to the gym 3 times a week. Am hoping that will lose more when I stop bf (dd is 9 months old).

I'm a size 14 but would like to be a 12.